NCTA Weighs in on FCC's Broadband Speed Tests

In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) says it shares the Commission's goal of providing consumers with additional relevant and meaningful data regarding the speed of their broadband connections and other appropriate network performance data -- and agrees that such information may help consumers to better choose among competing providers and choose the right plan for their needs.

The National Broadband Plan contains some sound recommendations for achieving this objective, including the use of third-party contractors and the creation of an industry/consumer advisory council. But the Plan also relies heavily on results obtained from online speed tests to support its conclusion that there is a significant gap between the "actual" speed consumers experience and the "advertised" speed that providers offer. In this letter and in the attached report, we identify substantial shortcomings with using online speed tests to measure this purported gap. NCTA encourages the Commission, going forward, to focus on alternative measurement approaches that are likely to produce more accurate and meaningful data. NCTA says it look forward to working with the Commission and other stakeholders on these important issues and offer the following in the spirit of constructive collaboration.